All Camera No Lights

Is it just me or does the media like to interview those of us with, how should I put it, less than a Grade A intelligence? I am a current events and news junkie. I am the kind of person who will flip between the cable news programs so I can catch as much information as possible. Over my thirty plus years of news watching I have found some strange patterns when interviewing people for reports.

Show versus No Show

One trend I have noticed is that the nicer the home or the richer the area, the less of it you will see during a report. It does not matter if it is a headline such as a murder or disaster or a fluff piece like, Christmas lights or a three legged dog. When the media interviews someone in an affluent neighborhood, often the person hides behind their door to speak or will walk out to the garage to interview. On the other hand, in the less than affluent area’s it seems people are more than willing to show off their entire home and neighborhood for that matter.

Lowest common denominator

If you ask me, when a media outlet looks to interview people for a poll or general question they seem to seek out the same people Jay Leon would question for his Jay Walking bit. Personally, I believe the media does this on purpose to make its viewers either feel more in touch with the interviewee or to feel above them. Have you ever been interviewed and gave an intelligent well thought out question only to never see it aired and in its place someone who could not even answer the first question on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire with three life-lines?

Maybe I have just watched too much television and am reading too much into this. We are a smarter people are we not? Perhaps we are all glued to our websites and blogs to be out in the street available to be interviewed, I for one hope that this is the case because this is getting out of hand. We need representation for those of us who read and continue to educate ours in the public media. I call on all of you who read this to stand up and be questioned.